Tank support and bracing structure

ABSTRACT

A REINFORCING STRUCTURE FOR SECURING A CYLINDRICAL TANK DURING SHIPMENT INCLUDES AT LEAST TWO LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS WHICH ARE INTERCONNECTED BY CROSS MEMBERS PROVIDING CRADLES FOR THE TANK CYLINDER. THE TANK IS SECURED AT EACH END FOR SHIPMENT BY AN UPRIGHT MEMBER AT EACH SIDE OF EACH END OF THE TANK WHICH IS SECURED TO THE ADJACENT END BY A CROSS MEMBER AND A CLAMP FITTING. THE UPRIGHT MEMBERS ARE POSITIONED AT EACH CORNER OF THE TANK AND THEY EXTEND UPWARDLY ABOVE THE TOP THEREOF AND THEY, TOGETHER WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE MEMBERS, PROVIDE A PROTECTIVE FRAME SUPPORT FOR SHIPPING THE TANK. THE UPRIGHT MEMBERS MAY BE DISCONNECTED FROM THE TANK BY REMOVING THE CLAMP AND THEY ARE PIVOTABLY CONNECTED AT EACH END TO THE LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS SO THAT THEY MAY BE SWUNG DOWNWARDLY TO EXTEND SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY AND DOWNWARDLY IN A POSITION WHICH THEY FORM SUPPORTING LEGS. ADDITIONAL BRACING ELEMENTS ARE CARRIED ON THE LEGS WHICH MAY BE OPENED UP TO EXTEND DIAGONALLY FROM THE LEG TO THE LONGITUDINAL MEMBER.

Feb. 20, 1-973. NArsu'o NARUMI 3,717,230

TANK SUPPORT AND BRACING STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 27, 1970 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Na'tsuo Maw-uni Me. 6124. MATMM.

1973 NATSUO NARUM] TANK SUPPORT AND BRACING STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 27, 1970 FIG. 2

mm T u v ma M N m A. c WW United States Patent O 3,717,280 TANK SUPPORT AND BRACING STRUCTURE Natsuo Narumi, Kobe, Japan, assignor to Messrs. Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kahushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan Filed Nov. 27, 1970, Ser. No. 93,166 Claims priority, application Japan, Dec. 5, 1969, 44/97,662 Int. Cl. B65d 7/42 U.S. Cl. 220-69 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A reinforcing structure for securing a cylindrical tank during shipment includes at least two longitudinal members which are interconnected by cross members providing cradles for the tank cylinder. The tank is secured at each end for shipment by an upright member at each side of each end of the tank which is secured to the adjacent end by a cross member and a clamp fitting. The upright members are positioned at each corner of the tank and they extend upwardly above the top thereof and they, together with the longitudinal and transverse members, provide a protective frame support for shipping the tank. The upright members may be disconnected from the tank by removing the clamp and they are pivotably connected at each end to the longitudinal members so that they may be swung downwardly to extend substantially vertically and downwardly in a position which they form supporting legs. Additional bracing elements are carried on the legs which may be opened up to extend diagonally from the leg to the longitudinal member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to the construction of supports or stands, and in particular, to a new and useful support for a tank providing a shipping protective frame and a supporting base therefor.

For various types of chemical plant use, there is a high demand for a large sized tank which is supported at an elevated position on stanchions. A difliculty in the manufacture, or the building up of such an overhead tank structure, is that the tank must be hoisted to an elevated position after shipment and during shipment. An elaborate means must be provided to protect the tank and its fittings. In those instances, where the stanchions are transported with the tank they make such transportation extremely difficult and expensive.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a combined shipping protective frame for a tank and a supporting stand. During shipment the tank is supported in a frame made up of longitudinal and transverse members which carry at the corners thereof upright members or protective stanchions which are oriented at each end of the tank and secured to an end face by means of a securing clamp fastened to the tank. After shipment the protective stanchions are pivoted about their connection to the frame so that they extend downwardly in a position at which they form legs for supporting the whole tank structure.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved combined tank shipping and supporting structure wherein the supporting legs carried by a support frame are pivoted upwardly above the frame for shipment of the tank and secured to the end faces of the tank in order to provide a protection therefor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined tank and support assembly including a frame formed by spaced longitudinal members and transverse supporting cradles upon which the tank is rested and 3,717,280 Patented Feb. 20, 1973 "ice including a supporting leg pivoted to each end of the frame in a manner such that it may be positioned upright at each end of the tank and at each corner with means for securing the uprights to the tank, the uprights being separable from the tank and pivotable downwardly to a position at which they extend vertically downwardly and form legs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tank and support structure which is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a tank support structure constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the tank and support structure of FIG. 1.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein, comprises a cylindrical tank 1 which is supported on longitudinally spaced transverse member or cradles 6, 6 which are secured between laterally spaced longitudinal members or beams 5, 5.

In accordance with the invention, at each corner of the frame formed by the transverse and longitudinal mem? bers 5 and 6, there is provided a combined protective support and stanchion member 2 which is pivotally connected to the associated end of each transverse member 5 by means of a hinge 4. When the tank 1 is to be prepared for shipment the members 2 are oriented substantially vertically upwardly and are held in the upright position and secured to the tank by means of a cross member 3 which engages through a fitting or clamp 10 of the tank at the associated end. In the shipping position the members 2 form compression members and they protect each end face of the tank as well as the fitting 1a which projects above the top thereof.

After the tank is shifted to the desired destination the fittings 10 are removed and the members 2 are pivoted about the hinge 4 to a downward position as indicated in dotted lines at 2. In this position the members 2 form stanchions providing supports for the tank at the location of its use. The stanchions 2' are additionally braced preferably by diagonal bracing elements which are pivotally carried on the stanchions 2 and which are engaged in suitable engagement pieces (not shown) of the longitudinal members 5.

[In practice the dimensions A, B, and C conform to those of a sea-borne container prescribed by the International Standards. The tank is shipped from a factory in a state shown in the solid lines of each of FIGS. 1 and 2, and it may be transported to a spot where it is to be used using the usual means for sea-borne containers. The protective support is such that no additional packing is required and the tank may be manipulated by the usual cargo handling equipment, for example, hoisting hooks which may be engaged through eyelets or openings 9 at the upper ends of the members 2. The package can be transported not only by the sea-borne methods but also by land and at high efiiciency. It is possible to transport the whole structure on a highway at high speed.

When the device is unloaded upon arriving at the destination where it is to be used, first the metal fittings are disengaged while the structure is suspended from a supporting hoist and then the compression members 2 are turned downwardly in the direction of the arrows 11 to the dotted line position at which they form supporting legs. After all four members 2 are erected downwardly, they are braced by the element 7 and the whole structure is lowered to provide the immediate installation and support of the tank.

The package construction makes it possible to shorten the period required for preparation for transportation, for the actual transportation and also for the subsequent erection of the device at the location of use. The transportation costs are materially lowered because of the characteristic of the support and its construction such that the device may be easily handled by hoisting equipment.

What is claimed is:

1.'A shipping and installation package comprising a rectangular supporting frame having spaced longitudinal side members and rear cross members forming receiving cradles adjacent each end, a cylindrical tank received on said cross members and supported on said frame, and a combination protective member and support leg of a length at least as great as the height of said tank and pivotally connected to said frame at each corner thereof they extend at least level to the top of said tank, said securing means being releasable to permit pivoting of said combination protective member and support leg downwardly into a supporting leg position extending downwardly from said frame, said legs being also movable into a protective position extending vertically downwardly to provide a base for supporting said frame with said tank, said combination protective member and supporting leg being spaced apart a distance corresponding to the protective member spacing required by International Standards.

2. A shipping and installation package, according to claim 1, wherein said frame comprises two longitudinal members arranged on respective sides of said tank and 4 at least two cross members forming supporting cradles for said tank. a

3. A shipping and installation package, according to claim 1, including a bracing member connected between said members and said frame when said members are in a downwardly extending leg forming position.

4. A shipping and installation package, according to claim 1, including a cross member extending between said members at each end of said tank, said securing means comprising a fitting secured to said tank and holding said cross member to said tank.

5. A shipping and installation package, according to claim 4, wherein said members are of a height such that they extend above the top of said tank when they are in an upright protective position.

6. A supporting device, according to claim 1, including a cross member connected between said members and means connected to said cross member for securing said cross member to a respective end of said tank.

7. A supporting device for the shipment and subsequent support of a tank comprising a tank, a substantially rectangular frame forming a cradle for receiving the tank, said frame having two longitudinal members on each side of said tank and at least two transversely extending supporting cradles beneath said tank extending between said longitudinal members, a combination upright support and leg member pivotally connected to said frame adjacent each corner thereof and adjacent each end of said tank, said members being pivotal downwardly to a position below said frame in a substantially upright leg-forming position to support said frame and being pivotal upwardly to define braces at each corner of said tank extending to the level of the top of said tank, said frame having hoisting equipment receiving openings adjacent each end.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,637,553 8/ 1927 Coleman 220-69 2,167,000 7/1939 Nilson et a1. 220-69 2,663,391 12/1953 Kuhns -12 R 3,124,057 3/1964 Kiser 190-12 R 3,160,171 12/1964 Klein 220-69 X LLOYD L. KING, Primary Examiner 

